If you stay in Hanoi during the holidays, you can explore the culinary alley in the center of the Old Quarter, which serves a variety of dishes such as dried beef salad (nộm bò khô), bún đậu, bún chả que tre, chè thập cẩm, …
Dong Xuan Lane is 200 meters long and located east of Dong Xuan market, near the center of Hanoi Old Quarter. It has long been a popular destination for snack lovers, with many diners being foreigners.
In addition to the small pedestrian entrance, Dong Xuan market alley has about 15 food stalls and is just wide enough to accommodate a row of tables and chairs for diners. Billboards are hung above the eaves of each counter, and there is a space near the wall for sellers to prepare food.
The cuisine in Dong Xuan market lane is diverse, with dishes such as: nộm bò khô, hàu nướng, bánh gối, bánh tôm, ghẹ, tôm hấp, bún đậu, bún ốc, bún chả que tre, bánh mì que...
Dishes cost between 5,000 and 40,000 VND per dish: Chè Xuka is 20,000 VND per cup, shrimp cake is 12,000 VND per piece, noodles are 30,000 VND per bowl, nộm is 25,000 VND, and snail noodles are 40,000 VND... Diners only need 100,000 VND to enjoy delectable dishes from beginning to end of the alley.
A food tour of Dong Xuan market lane can begin with Co Rum shrimp cake at the entrance. The owner claims to have been in business for more than 30 years.
In addition to fresh shrimp, the shop places a premium on the crust. The crust is made in a special way so that when the cake is fried golden, it is not too dry and always delicious. Another distinguishing feature of Hanoi shrimp cake is the addition of finely chopped sweet potatoes fried with the cake.
Ms. Hoa's bread stick cart, which is located near the main gate of Dong Xuan market, primarily serves office workers and tourists. Hoa stated that the shop sells over 800 cakes per day and only opens for 5 hours, 2 hours at noon, and 3 hours in the evening.
The alley has two famous chè shops, the older of which is Chè Yến, which has been open for 23 years. According to Ms. Truong Thi Bach Yen, the shop has 23 chè flavors such as chè đỗ xanh, chè đỗ đen, chè bưởi, chè khoai, chè chuối... chè will change depending on the season. The shop sells more hot teas and drift cakes in the winter.
"After finishing the shrimp cake, I'll have a bowl of snail noodles for 35,000 VND. If you're still hungry, you can refresh yourself with four seasons of tea. Every time I go to Dong Xuan market to get groceries, I also stop by this dining area "Ms. Thanh Mai, a market vendor, shared her experience.
According to small traders at the market, the food lane was previously opened to serve traders entering and exiting Dong Xuan market. However, in recent years, many domestic and international tourists, office workers, and young people from Hanoi have come here to enjoy themselves.
Dong Xuan Lane is open daily from 7 a.m. to around 18 p.m., with the busiest hours being 11 a.m. to 13 p.m. and around 17 p.m. During rush hour, the restaurants in the alley are packed, and many diners must wait in line for 10-15 minutes to get their turn.
It should be noted that the alley has no parking and must be sent to Dong Xuan market. Furthermore, the alley is quite narrow.
Source: Thanh Thủy